Emerging Digital Technologies and Supply Chain Transparency: The Mediating Role of Traceability, Robust Information, and Inventory Effectiveness

The study was also conducted to fill a critical research gap in studies on digital supply chain with regard to how the emerging digital technologies are being converted into supply chain transparency. Although the significance of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and digital platforms is recognized by previous studies, little empirical research is done to clarify how these technologies bring about transparency. The work is based on the current literature as its author suggests that transparency is not produced directly by technology but is an emerging functionality created based on traceability, strong information, and efficient inventory management. The research design utilized a quantitative and cross sectional study utilizing surveys conducted on supply chain and operations professionals. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the proposed conceptual model. Cronbach alpha and composite reliability and average variance extracted were used to measure the reliability and validity of measurements and bootstrapping procedures were used to test the hypotheses. The findings show that artificial intelligence (β = 0.379, p < 0.001) and blockchain technology (β = 0.385, p < 0.001) have a significant positive impact on supply chain traceability, and digital platforms have a strong impact on robust information ( = 0.693, p < 0.001). Effective inventory management (β = 0.382 and = 0.475) is also greatly boosted by both supply chain traceability and strong information, and this, along with traceability, facilitates supply chain transparency (R2 = 0.718). The proposed mediation structure was also confirmed as most of the hypotheses were supported. The research presents a multi-mediator process-based explanation of the formation of transparency, which advances the theory and offers practical advice that can be applied to managers. It also provides opportunities to conduct longitudinal studies and cross-country in the future. Keywords: Digital supply chain, Artificial intelligence, Blockchain technology, Supply chain traceability, Supply chain transparency, Inventory management